Lee represented the last gasp of chivalric warfare in an age rapidly turning towards industrial slaughter.
To understand Lee is to understand the concept of Duty as a religious imperative. He did not fight for glory, or for conquest, or even primarily for victory. He fought because he believed his honor demanded it.
"Do your duty rapidly and effectively. You can do no more. You should never wish to do less."
This stoicism made him the emotional anchor of the Confederacy. But it also proved to be a strategic liability. His "gentlemanly" style command—phrasing orders as suggestions ("If practicable...")—led to critical failures when subordinates like Ewell or Stuart required firm direction.